D Is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Alphabets) [Paperback]

Elissa D. Grodin (Author), Victor Juhasz (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Sleeping Bear Alphabets

Democracy - America has it and it seems like many other countries want it. But what exactly is a democracy and how easy is it to maintain? Despite the banter in today's media, many Americans are still in the dark when it comes to knowing and acting upon their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democratic society. In refreshingly candid and straight-to-the-point language author Elissa Grodin takes readers of all ages on an A-Z trip through our government's structure, from its earliest beginnings to definitons of basic components and concepts (including immigration and taxation). Engaging, disarming, and frequently thought-provoking artwork from illustrator Victor Juhasz emphasizes the magnitude of the subject. From founding fathers, first ladies, and the First Amendment to the presidential oath of office, D is for Democracy details the political processes, parties, and people of democracy, American-style.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. The organizing device for this book on the U.S and its government is the alphabet, with each letter introducing a person, place, thing, or concept. From "Amendment" and "Bill of Rights" to "You and me" and "Zeitgeist," each letter inspires a rhymed couplet about the topic, though some are a bit arcane: "X marks the spot / for a meeting one fall / of the very first Congress / in Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall." The accompanying text includes two or three informative paragraphs written in polysyllabic words at a much higher reading level than the verse. The book's intended audience is a puzzle, as readers old enough to understand the text may well be put off by the alphabet theme and the verse. However, the broad appeal of Juhasz's colorful artwork is clear. Sure to please anyone from young children to adults, the drawings have an informal, accessible look bolstered by abundant energy, evident skill in caricature, and a sure sense of composition. For larger collections. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (January 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585363286
• ISBN-13: 978-1585363285
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 11 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #500,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Politics & Government

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A picturebook worthy of the highest recommendation, October 12, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D Is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet (Alphabet Books) (Hardcover)

Clearly written by Elissa Grodin and distinctively illustrated by Victor Juhasz, D Is For Democracy is not an ordinary alphabet book. Each letter is associated with a word or concept associated with democratic government, such as J is for Judicial branch, and a simple poem (J is for Judicial branch - / For justice, judge, and jury. / Those who do not break the law / never have to worry) - but in addition, a much more extensive sidebar appropriate for young folks of grade school reading level and up explains in-depth the value of the idea to a pluralistic, representative society, such as how the Brown v. Board of Education judicial case brought a landmark change in America when the Supreme Court ruled segregation to be unconstitutional. Kindly color illustrations of our nations' institutions at work bring the points to life in D Is For Democracy, a picturebook worthy of the highest recommendation.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Liberal Overtones, October 26, 2010

By 

Midwest Mommy (Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D Is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet (Alphabet Books) (Hardcover)

It is imperative for parents to read and discern literature before children do. I give credit to the author for writing a book about deomcracy, but D is for Democracy has subtle liberal undertones (especially in the illustrations). Underneath the surface, the leftist agenda is pushing for Communism...an enemy of Democracy. PARENTS BEWARE! Know what your children are reading. Teach them to love LIBERTY everyday, lest the liberal socialist agenda deceive their minds and continue to pluck away freedom after freedom. Children should long after the American Dream that they can work hard, pursue their dreams, and be whatever they want to be because of the FREEDOM that is unique only to America. Give them the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, With My Rifle By My Side: A Second Amendment Lesson, American Soldier Proud and Free, and great biographies of the Founding Fathers and their families...but please, leave D is for Democracy on the library bookshelf.